The fifth time was not the charm for Tulalip Heritage but the second time certainly was for the Lummi Nation boys basketball team.
The Blackhawks bested their tribal rivals for the fifth time this season in the biggest game of the season, defeating the Hawks, 61-56, to win the Class 1B state championship for the second year in a row on Saturday night in the Spokane Arena.
The state title was Lummi Nation’s third overall and completed a 27-1-1 season. The No.1-ranked Blackhawks’ only loss was to Class 1A state champion Lynden Christian on the road in December
“Every player and community member contributed to our win tonight,” said Lummi Nation coach Jerome Toby Sr., who also guided the Blackhawks to the 2015 state crown.
For coverage of all of our Whatcom teams’ state games, click on State Games.
Saturday’s finals victory came against a familiar foe. The Blackhawks and Hawks had locked talons four times already this season. Lummi Nation won 65-62 at Tulalip and 75-62 at Lummi during the regular season, then 57-56 in the District 1 championship game, and 59-44 in the District 1/2/3 championship game.
But if the Hawks thought Lummi Nation would have a letdown in round 5, they were sadly mistaken. The two teams battled back and forth with nine lead changes and 10 ties. But when Lummi Nation took the final lead early in the fourth quarter, they would keep it the rest of the way.
And the main reason, as always, was the play of senior Jerome Toby Jr. Last year’s tournament MVP and 1B player of the year took over for the final four minutes.
With the Blackhawks clinging to a two-point lead, the point guard hit a 10-foot floater in the key. After junior Dyson Edward scored on a drive and junior Deandre James sank a free throw to give Lummi some breathing room, Toby scored on another drive with 45 seconds left to make it a six-point lead.
Then, with Lummi Nation still up by six with 27.3 seconds remaining, he forced another turnover, and with 15.5 seconds left, he would ice the game with two free throws.
“It was an absolute batle for the state championship,” said coach Toby. “Tulalip played a great game.Their kids can hoop. But I was proud of my boys for how they played, defending the Gold Ball.”
Toby would finish with a game-high 26 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists.
Edwards had 12 points and 6 rebounds, junior Landon LaFontaine had 11 points on three of Lummi’s four 3-pointers, senior Chayce Waite-Kellar was held to 7 points mainly due to foul trouble but had 14 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, and junior Deandre James contributed 7 rebounds.
In addition to Toby and Waite-Kellar, the Blackhawks will be graduating key reserve Isaiah Yrizarris.
Tulalip Heritage ended the season with a 23-7 mark and a second-place finish, its highest ever.
Lummi Nation 61, Tulalip Heritage 56
Tulalip Heritage 11 20 12 13—56
Lummi Nation 14 12 17 18—61
Tulalip Heritage: Davis, Gray 21, Parks 12, Bachand 2, Black Tomahawk 2, Zackue 1, Archibald 15, Myles-Gilford, Hatch, Wells 3, Paul.
Lummi Nation: Toby Jr. 26, LaFontaine 11, Edwards 12, Revey, Yrizarris 2, Hawk, Jones, Waite-Kellar 7, D. James 3, Toby-Williams.
CLASS 1B BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
At Numerica Veterans Arena (Spokane Arena)
Wednesday, March 4
Liberty Christian 71, Muckleshoot Tribal 38 (loser out)
Neah Bay 74, Sunnyside Christian 58 (loser out)
Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 47, Touchet 45 (loser out)
Columbia Adventist 57, Wahkiakum 52 (loser out)
Thursday, March 5
DeSales 78, Liberty Christian 74
Lummi Nation 70, Neah Bay 48
Tulalip Heritage 72, Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 53
Almira-Coulee-Hartline 80, Columbia Adventist 54
Friday, March 6
Liberty Christian 53, Neah Bay 50 (loser out)
Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 57, Columbia Adventist 43 (loser out)
Lummi Nation 74, DeSales 58
Tulalip Heritage 64, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 59
Saturday, March 7
Moses Lake Christian/Covenant Christian 51, Liberty Christian 49 (winner fourth, loser sixth)
DeSales 67, Almira-Coulee-Hartline 55 (winner third, loser fifth)
Lummi Nation 51, Tulalip Heritage 49 (winner first, loser second)
